Revenue - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2016
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts and notes receivable, current portion, net	$ 21,566	$ 20,284
Income taxes receivable	760	963
Other current assets	5,265	7,974
Deferred tax assets, net		62,841
Other assets, net of current portion	4,347	4,023
Income taxes payable	105	97
Deferred revenue	25,310	25,268
Deferred revenue, net of current	19,939	20,228
Retained earnings	18,412	8,400
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	419	459
Non-controlling interest	$ 403,701	410,934
RE/MAX franchise agreements
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Period of franchise agreement	5 years
Motto franchise agreements
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Period of franchise agreement	7 years
As previously reported | ASU 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts and notes receivable, current portion, net		21,304
Income taxes receivable		870
Other current assets		6,924
Deferred tax assets, net		59,151
Other assets, net of current portion		1,563
Income taxes payable		133
Deferred revenue		18,918
Deferred revenue, net of current		0
Retained earnings		16,027
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax		515
Non-controlling interest		398,348
Adjustments | ASU 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts and notes receivable, current portion, net		(1,020)
Income taxes receivable		93
Other current assets		1,050
Deferred tax assets, net		3,690
Other assets, net of current portion		2,460
Income taxes payable		(36)
Deferred revenue		6,350
Deferred revenue, net of current		20,228
Retained earnings		(7,627)	$ 4,900
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax		(56)
Non-controlling interest		$ 12,586	$ 11,600